President’s Corner – July 2025 – Modification Approval (ARC)
Looks like it is time to get all HOA-y on you again. Sitting in ARC (Architectural Review Committee) meetings over the last couple of months, I am noticing more and more residents who are making exterior modifications, sometimes significant, without ARC approval and only ended up at ARC because they received a violation. I understand that some residents, especially newer ones, do not realize you need approval for changes you see all over like widened driveways and landscaping. However, ANY exterior modification requires approval. Yes, I mean ANY modification. What we don’t want to happen is for someone to make a very expensive modification that isn’t allowed and then they have to undo it, which happens!
This is not a “control” issue. Trust me. I would rather not spend hours reviewing and discussing ARC applications each month. The ARC process is to ensure everyone is operating from the same playbook and to maintain the community’s aesthetic guidelines. Believe it or not, not everyone has the same aesthetic palate, and beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. By ensuring everyone follows the same guidelines, conflicts over the color of a house or a bold landscaping plan are eliminated.
Whether you like it or not, Viera is an HOA community and when you choose to live in an HOA community, there are rules to follow. I get it – living in an HOA is not for everyone – and that’s OK. That’s the great thing about personal freedom; you get to choose where you live. If you don’t want to have to comply with architectural guidelines, maybe living in an HOA isn’t for you. However, if you are reading this, you have chosen to live in an HOA and you are subject to all of the governing documents we have.
Another reason it is important to submit your ARC applications is that there are many state and local rules and ordinances we have to follow, not just HOA rules. For instance, if you simply want to plant a tree, where you plant it has significant implications. Is there a private drainage easement that prevents it? Is it a non-native or prohibited tree? Does it affect the line of sight for an intersection? Is there a plat note prohibiting a tree in that spot? Is it a citrus or fruit tree, which is prohibited in a few neighborhoods. Will future growth of the tree also impact line-of-sight or encroach on your neighbor’s property? Does it materially impact the view of a pond? I could go on and on. These are the types of issues that ARC looks at with each application.
If you have an idea for a modification and are unsure if it is something you can do, reach out to your Community Association Manager (CAM) and have a discussion. If CVCA is the one you apply to for your neighborhood (which is the case for most neighborhoods), then you can call Chris Briggs at Fairway Management to discuss (321-777-7575).
Finally, please understand that not every project gets approved. Sometimes that really cool idea you have or the neat thing you had at your last house isn’t allowed here. So, yelling at and threatening the committee members isn’t going to change the rules or get you what you want. Be nice about it. In fact, just be nice – full stop. If it is something ARC can work with you on to get you some version of what you want, we will. But, again, not everything gets approved and that is simply the reality of the ARC process.
For more information or for how to submit an application, here is the page on the CVCA website that explains everything: https://www.cvcaviera.com/how-do-i/get-modification-approval/. If you have questions, you can reach out to me (eva.rey@viera.com) or you can reach out to Chris at Fairway (chris@fairwaymgmt.com).
So, until next time, remember, “No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Eva M. Rey, President
Central Viera Community Association, Inc.